Delta Pharma to invest $100m in NSEZ for biopharma, oncology, AI-driven production

Delta Pharma Ltd, through its subsidiary Delta Life Science PLC, is set to invest $100 million in a new facility at the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), with the first phase involving an initial investment of $31.3 million.

The company has already signed a land lease agreement with the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) today for the allocation of 30 acres at the NSEZ in the presence of representatives from both sides.

The NSEZ, Bangladesh's largest economic zone covering 33,805 acres across Sitakunda and Mirsharai in Chattogram and Sonagazi in Feni, is being developed by Beza. Fourteen companies are already in production at the zone, while around 20 others are under construction.

Delta Pharma Managing Director Dr Md Zakir Hossain told The Business Standard, "We will make an initial investment of $31.3 million, and within 12-15 years, our plan is to expand it to $100 million."

Under the agreement, Delta Pharma's Delta Life Sciences plans to set up multiple facilities, including a biopharmaceutical fill-finish and formulation facility; an oncology unit for injectable and oral solid dosage medicines; an herbal, nutraceutical and natural medicine unit; an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plant; an AI-driven manufacturing unit; and a modern research and development (R&D) centre.

At the facilities, the company intends to manufacture anti-cancer drugs, monoclonal antibodies, erythropoietin, filgrastim, tropical creams and ointments, as well as herbal and nutraceutical products.

Delta Pharma, founded in 1964, relaunched under new management in November 2004 and became a public limited company in December 2007. Its factory operates under World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and ISO 9001:2015 standards. The company currently produces more than 109 generic medicines and exports to around 15 countries.

Dr Zakir said the investment was part of the company's vision to position Bangladesh as a regional hub for advanced pharmaceutical production and research, particularly in oncology and biopharmaceuticals. 

"We hope to start construction within six months and begin production of oncology medicines first within the next three years," he added.

Bangladesh exported pharmaceuticals worth $213 million in FY2024-25, a 4% rise from the previous year. 

Industry stakeholders believe Delta Pharma's long-term $100 million plan will not only boost export competitiveness but also diversify production into high-value, specialised medicines.

At the signing ceremony at Beza's headquarters in Dhaka, Dr Zakir noted that the company's decision was also driven by the need to meet challenges arising from Bangladesh's graduation from least developed country (LDC) status. 

He said, "To tackle the challenges of LDC graduation, we need to make major investments in this sector. With that in mind, we have been encouraged to go for large-scale investment."

"Our goal is to make Bangladesh a centre for advanced medicine production and research. Currently, 98% of the country's pharmaceutical demand is met locally. If we had to import these medicines, it would cost around $7-11 billion. With this new facility, we will meet domestic demand while also expanding exports," he added. 

"We seek policy support from the government to sustain the growth of this sector," Dr Zakir further noted.

"We have given high priority to the pharmaceutical sector as an export product. Whatever support is required from the government, we will provide it," said Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), at the programme.

"To attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), we have identified 19 sectors, of which eight have been given high priority – one of them being pharmaceuticals. We believe all the factors are favourable for investment in this sector, and there is ample scope to further increase exports," he added.